Pro Golf Tour: Babnik Triumphs, Antonisse Wins the Order of Merit

Jaka Babnik wins his first tournament on the Pro Golf Tour at the Hulencourt Masters Pro Golf Tour Grand Final. The Slovenian finished the season finale one stroke ahead of Nathan Cossement. Dario Antonisse finished the season in first place on the Order of Merit. Alongside the Dutchman, Kristof Ulenaers (Belgium), Philipp Macionga (Germany), Mauro Gilardi (Switzerland), and Max Schmitt (Germany) secured the five spots on the HotelPlanner Tour.

As the Pro Golf Tour season drew to a close, an incredibly exciting title race unfolded on the perfectly manicured and challenging holes of “Le Vallon” at the Golf Club d’Hulencourt. As the final groups turned onto the home stretch, about half a dozen players still had hopes of winning the title. In the end, it was Jaka Babnik—of all people, the youngest player in the leading group—who came out on top.

The Slovenian, whose older sister Pia competes on the Ladies European Tour, had started the third and final round in a promising position after shooting 65 and 69, and was able to build on his strong form on Thursday. After an up-and-down front nine with two Bogey shots and three Birdies, the 20-year-old needed just two more Birdies on the back nine to card a 70 and a total score of 12 under Par, claiming his first victory on the Pro Golf Tour. The first-time champion finished one stroke ahead of Belgian Nathan Cossement. Tim Tillmanns (Germany) and Nevill Ruiter (Netherlands) finished another stroke back, tied for third place.

“I already had a chance to win at the start of the season. That experience definitely helped me today,” explained Babnik, who finished second at the Madaëf Golfs Open in May. “Toward the end, we looked at the leaderboard and I knew I had a chance. I just tried to take it one shot at a time.”

Babnik traveled to Belgium with confidence after his recent training sessions and practice rounds at his home club, Cubo Golf, near Ljubljana. “I knew I had a chance to win if I played my best golf. It makes it all the more wonderful that it worked out. Now I’m off to the Second Stage of the DP World Tour Q-School. I’ve proven to myself here that I can do it.”

The tournament winner also had words of praise for the course with its lightning-fast and true greens. “Hulencourt was once again in excellent condition. For me, it was one of the best courses we’ve played this year.”

Five players have secured promotion

In addition to the first-time winner, the top five in the season standings also had reason to celebrate. After the final tournament of the year, there were no changes at the top of the Order of Merit. Dario Antonisse finished the season as the top player in his division, with two wins and nine additional top-ten finishes in 21 starts. The Dutchman didn’t miss a single cut. Alongside Antonisse, Kristof Ulenaers (Belgium), Philipp Macionga (Germany), Mauro Gilardi (Switzerland), and Max Schmitt (Germany) will compete on the HotelPlanner Tour next year as part of the top five.

“Winning the Order of Merit means a great deal to me,” said Antonisse. “I’ve had to deal with injuries time and again in recent years, and now I’ve finally been able to show that I’m on the right track. Now I’m looking forward to competing at the next level next year.”

Successful Debut in Hulencourt

“The debut of the season finale here in Hulencourt was a special highlight of an eventful year,” said Peter Zäh, CEO of the Pro Golf Tour. “For me, this course is one of the best in Belgium, and it really pushed the players to their limits one last time to close out the season. The organization and the entire atmosphere were outstanding. My thanks go to everyone who, with passion and dedication, helped make this finale a true highlight—the perfect conclusion to this season. The quality and level of competition on the Pro Golf Tour in 2026 were likely higher than ever before. At the same time, we’ve further expanded our tournament calendar and, in cooperation with the VcG, created additional high-quality playing opportunities through the German Swing, which were very well received by players, clubs, and partners. We’re already looking forward to the upcoming season.”

“We are incredibly proud to host the Pro Golf Tour Grand Final, the Hulencourt Masters, here in Belgium for the first time,” explained Palmo Venneri, Managing Director in Hulencourt. “A big thank you goes to the Pro Golf Tour team, our staff, our volunteers, the referees, and, of course, all the pros for everything we’ve achieved together over the past three years. Hosting the Grand Final is a special opportunity for us and for the sport of golf in Belgium. The dedication, commitment, and professionalism of the Pro Golf Tour and Hulencourt teams have been exceptional. Special thanks go to our president, Patrick Solvay, for his tireless support, trust, and dedication. He provides the necessary resources so that we at Hulencourt can continue to strive for the highest quality and share our values with the world.”

In just a few days, the Pro Golf Tour’s Qualifying School for the 2027 season is set to take place. From October 7–8, players will compete at Golf Fleesensee and Golfclub Reischenhof for the coveted spots in the upcoming season.

(Text: Starke and Pfeiffer)